Car-coupling



GAR GOUPLING.

,085. Patented Aug. 29, 1893.

NVENTOH I WITNESSES! (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2;

F. JACOB.

GAR GOUPLING.

N0. 5U4,085. Patented Aug. 29, 1893'.

W/T/VESSES. j

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. F. JACOB. OAR GOUPLING.

{No Model.)

Patented Aug. 29, 1893.

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS v rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK JACOB, OF NEWARK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO HENRY PATTBERG, OFJERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

CAR-CCU PLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 504,085, dated August29, 1893.

' Application filed May 4, 1893. Serial No. 472,930. illo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JAGOB,'3. c tizen of the United States,residing in the city of Newark, in the county of Essex, State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to animproved car-coupling by which thecoupling of the cars is accomplished by the force of gravity, so as todispense with the use of springs, screws and other parts that are liableto wear out by use and which is so constructed that a doubleinterlocking of the draw-heads takes place, and that the uncoupling-ofthe cars can be accomplished either from the side, platform or top ofthe car without danger to life or limb. The draw-bars can also be usedwith the ordinary pin and link-coupling, so as to permit of. couplingwith cars having the old style pin and link while the draw-heads adaptthemselves readily to difierent angles of inclination toward thedrawbars when rounding curves, so that a steady and reliable connectionof the cars is obtained.

The invention consists of.a car-coupling which consists of a drawbarwhich is open at Y the sides and has a rounded-0d face-plate with anopening for the ordinary link, the upper part of the face-plate beingmade tapering at both sides, so as to support a saddle-piece which isinclined in opposite directions and connected by a swivel-pin with theyokeshaped top-piece of a detachable draw-head which rests on thesaddle-piece. The drawhead is open at the center for the face-plate ofthe draw-bar and provided with straight face-plates at both sides of thedraw-bar. A weighted push-piece is hinged to the rear-side of. thedrawhead, its lower end projecting through an opening in the draw-headand having a bent-up stop-lug back of the opening,

against which lug abuts the arm of a pivoted latch which is madeintegral with a coupling hook at its outer end, while a weightedlatchlever is fulcrumed to said latch and connected by a pivot-link witha transverse uncoupling lever fulcrumed to the top-piece of thedrawhead. The coupling-hook extends around the edge of the draw-head tothe front of the same, so as to couple with the draw-head of the car tobe coupled, when the latch is dropped in its lowermost position. Thelatch is operated in connection withthe push-piece, so as to retain thecoupling-hook in coupled or uncoupled position, as required.

The invention consists further of certain details of construction, whichwill be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, represents a side-elevation ofmy improved car-coupling, showing the parts in uncoupled position. Fig.2, is a plan-view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a front-elevation of thedraw-bar and draw-head, ready for coupling. Fig. 4, is a side-elevationof the car-coupling showing the parts in coupled position. Fig. 5, is aplanview of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a front-view of the draw-bar anddraw-head in coupled position. Figs. 7 and 8 are rear-elevations of thedrawhead, showing the push-piece in vertical transverse section, and theparts respectively in uncoupled and coupled position. Figs. 9, and 10,are vertical transverse sections respectively on line 9 9, Fig. 7, and1010, Fig. 8, and Fig. 11, is a detail horizontal section on line l111,Fig. 8.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings A representsa draw-bar, whichis preferablymade of platesteel, open at the sides and provided with a rounded-01fface-plate at, having an opening of sufficient size to permit theintroduction of a link when the draw-bar is to be used with the ordinarypin and link coupling. The draw-bar A is attached to the under side ofthe car-body in the usual manner and cushioned by suitable springs. Thefront or faceplate a of the draw-barA is extended in upward directionand inclined from the center clined top-part of the face-plate a, saidsadroo dle-piece being provided with flanges b b at both sides, so as torest steadily by gravityon the sides of the top-plate of the draw-bar.When the draw-bar A is made specially for this construction,thesaddle-piece is made in one integral piece with the draw-bar. Thesaddle-piece Ois likewise provided with a hole for the swivel-pin B. Adraw-head 'D rests on the saddle-piece C and is connected with thesaddle-piece and draw-bar by the pin B, it being provided with abackwardly-extending yoke-shaped top-part d that correspondsincross-secti on with the shape of thesaddle-piece C. Thelower part of thedraw-headDis also provided with a yoke-shaped bottom-part1 d which islike the top-part d, engaged by the pin B, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.From the yokeshaped back and bottom-parts d d of each draw-head D extendhorizontal side-portions or wings (1 which serve to reinforce thefaceplates. The wings d at one side of the drawhead are connected at theouter edges by a vertical plate (Z which is provided with anoblongopening'dflas shown clearly in Figs. 1,. 3, 7'and8. The draw-headD is preferably made of strong plate-steel and is bent intoshapeby'means of suitable diesso as to fit over the saddle-piece C ofthe draw-bar, it being open at its middle-portion, so as to permit therounded-oft face-plates to project slightly through the open portion ofthedraw head D: To the yoke-shaped top-part ofi the draw-head D isfulcrumed an uncouplingrlever E, which is connected by a link 8 with alevel-E, that is weighted at its outer end and fulcrmned to a latch F,whichis pivoted at itsinner end to the rear-side of the draw-head- D.Theouter end of the latch F is bent in the shape of a hook F thatextends over the. edge and over thefront of theidraw-head. D,

asshown clearly in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. The latch F is'provided below itspivot with a downward-extending arm f, that serves to engage anupwardly-bent lug got the weighted pushpiece G, which is pivoted at itsupper end to ears at the under side of one of. the lateral wings d ofthe draw-head, while the lower end projects through an opening in the.faceplate of the draw-head D to the outside of the same, the lower endbeing provided with a suitabl'ehead or enlargement g, as shown in Figs.1,2 and 3 and on alarger scalein Figs.

9, lO and 11. The upwardly-bent lug g serves as a stop by whichthepush-piece G is prevented from being forced by its weight to toogreat a distance beyond the face of the drawhead, while the head glimits the inwardmotion of the push-piece G, when the draw-heads come incontact with each other. The uncoupling-lever E extends transverselyacross thedraw-bar and is made of sufficient length to permit theoperation of the same from the sides, platform or top of the car, sothat the brakeman is not required to pass in between thecars whencoupling the same.

Operation of coupling: When the cars are to be coupled, the parts areplaced inuncoupled position and the coupling-hook of each draw-head isplaced in raised position by the uncoupling lever E and retained in thisposition by the inner end of the weighted latch-lever abutting againstthe lug g of the push-piece G, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and indotted lines iniFig. 7. The head g of the push-piece G projects to itsfull extent beyond the face-plate of the draw-head. When, by theapproach of the cars, the faceplates of the draw-bars abut against eachother, the drawheads of both couplings form contact with each other, andthe projecting heads of the push-pieces G are pushed inwardly, sothatthe inner ends of the weighted latch-levers are released from the lugs gand dropped by their weights into the lowermost position, asshown inFigs. 6 and 8. In this position the coupling-hooks of the latches Fengage the opposite sides of the draw-heads, so that they are lockedtogether at two diagonally-opposite points, as. shown in Fig. 4. Whenthe cars are to be uncoupled, each uncoupling lever Eis turned on. itsfulcrum in such a position, that the latch-lever E is.

raised into the position shown in Fig; 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 7..As the face-plates of the draw-heads are still in contact with eachother,.the inner end of thelatch-lever E" engages the bent-up lug g ofthe pushpiece G. As soon as the draw-heads are moved away from. eachother, the push-pieces G are dropped by gravity until stopped by thecontact of the-lugs g with the face-plates of the draw-heads D,.so thatthe arms fof the latches F abut against the lugs g,.as shownin Figs.7'and 9.. As the coupling-hooks F are withdrawn from. thefttce-plates ofthedrawheads, the cars are ready to be uncoupled. The lower endsorheadsG of the push-pieces G are projected beyond the face-plates of thedraw-heads to their full extent. When the cars are coupled. again,.theheads ofi'thepushpieces are pushed back,.tlie latches arelreleased andall the parts of the coupling, namely,.the uncoupling lever E,.thecouplinghook F', the latch F' and the latch-lever E? disconnected, theparts are set againby the v uncoupling lever from the coupled orlowermost position into. the uppermost or uncoupled position, as shownin Fig. 3'-

Advantages: Myimprovedcar-couplinghas a number of advantagesas comparedwiiththe car-couplings heretofore in use, to wit:

First. Tlie stead'y connection of the. couplings by the face-plates of'the draw-heads.

"Second. The yielding. of the draw-heads when the cars approach eachother for coupling. on a curve, soas to facilitate the connection of theparts. heads also takes place when the cars pass This yielding of thedrawaround curves, which is accomplished by-the swivel-pins of thedraw-heads, on which the draw-heads swing. During the swinging motion ofthe draw-heads, when rounding curves, the yoke-shaped top-parts of thesame ride on the saddle-pieces of the draw-bars and are returned totheir original positions by the force of gravity, the yoke-shapedtop-parts of the draw-heads and the saddle-pieces of the draw-barssecuring always the proper alignment of the parts, as soon as the carshave passed around the curve.

Third. As each draw-head is provided with a coupling-hook, the doublelocking of the drawheads at diagonally-opposite points of the same isproduced, so that the accidental uncoupling of the cars is prevented.

Fourth. The uncoupling can be accomplished from the side, platform ortop of the car without the slightest danger to the brakeman operatingthe same.

Fifth. My improved coupling can be used for coupling with the ordinarylink, as the link can be readilyinserted through the opening in therounded-off face-plate of the drawbar and coupled by the swivel-pin ofthe draw-head, which pin is dropped through the link and draw-bar andbecomes thereby the coupling-pin for the link, a reserve-link beingpreferably carried on each draw-bar for this purpose, as shown in Figs.land 4.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination,with a draw-bar having a rounded-off face-plate, of a saddle-piece onsaid draw-bar, a draw-head havinga yokeshaped top-part resting on saidsaddle-piece, and a swivel-pin for connecting the draw-head with thesaddle-piece and draw-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a draw-bar being open at the sides and having arounded-off face-plate, of a saddle-piece on the draw-bar, said saddlebeing provided with side-flanges for being retained on the top of thedraw-bar, a draw-head resting on the saddle-piece and a swivel-pinconnecting the draw-head, saddle-piece and draw-bar, substantially asset forth.

3. The combination, of a draw-bar having a rounded-off face-plate, asaddle-piece resting on the top of the draw-bar, a draw-head having ayoke-shaped top-part resting on said saddle-piece, yoke-shaped top andbottomparts, face-plates, and horizontal wings at both sides at the topand bottom-yokes, and a swivel-pin for connecting the yoke-shapedportions of the draw-head with the saddlepiece and draw-bar,substantially as set forth.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, of a draw-head, a Weightedpush-piece pivoted to the rear-side of the draw-head and arranged atright angles thereto, its lower end passing through an opening in theface-plate of the draw head to the front of same, a latch pivoted to therear side of the draw-head and of the draw-head at right angles thereto,the

lower end of the push-piece extending through an opening in thedraw-head to the front of same, said push-piece being provided with anupwardly-bent side-lug, a latch pivoted to the rear-side of thedraw-head and provided with a stop-arm, a weighted latch-lever pivotedto the latch and an uncoupling-lever fulcrumed to the top-part of thedraw-head and connected by a link with the latch-lever, the stoparm onthe inner end of the latch engaging the lug of the push-piece, when theparts are in partly uncoupled position, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, of a draw-bar, a saddle-piece on the top of thedraw-bar, a drawhead having a yoke-shaped top-part resting on thesaddle-piece of the draw-bar and a swivel-pin connecting the top-part ofthe draw-head, saddle-piece and draw-bar, the front of the draw-barbeing rounded off so as to permit the swinging of the draw-head on thecoupling-pin, and the riding ofthe toppiece of the draw-head on thesaddle of the draw-bar and the return of the same by gravity into normalposition, substantially as set forth.

7. A draw-head, provided with a central opening, a face-plate at eachside of the opening, a yoke-shaped top and bottom-part and horizontalwings at each side of the saidtop and bottom-parts for reinforcing thefaceplates, substantially as set forth.

8. A draw-head, provided with a central opening, aface-plate at eachside of said opening, a yoke-shaped top and bottom-part, horizontalwings at each side of the top and bottom-parts and a vertical connectingside-plate for the wings at one side of the draw-head, said side-platehaving an elongated opening or slot, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, of a draw-bar having a rounded-0E face-plate and anopening in said face-plate for coupling with an ordinary link, with adraw-head swiveled to the drawbar and provided with a central opening,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, of a draw-bar, asaddle-piece on the top of saiddraw-bar, a drawhead resting on said saddle-piece, a swivelpin forconnecting the draw-head, saddlepiece and draw-bar, a weightedpush-piece hinged to the rear-side of the face-plate of the draw-headand projecting beyond the same, a latch pivoted to the face-plate of thedrawhead and provided with a coupling-hook at my invention I have signedmy name in presits outer end, a Weighted latch-lever pivoted once of twosubscrlblng witnesses.

to the latch an uncoupling lever fnlerumed 1 P to the top-pert of thedraw-head and a pivot FREDERICK JALO 5 link connecting the latch-leverand nncoup- "Witnesses:

ling-level, substantially as set forth. PAUL GOEPEL,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as CHARLES SOHROEDER.

